MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s Zapatista rebels said in a statement distributed Thursday they are not planning any renewed combat, but hinted the movement may broaden itself beyond its current Indian rights platform.

Thursday’s statement signed by rebel leader Subcomandante Marcos says the Zapatistas are holding “an internal consultation” to decide whether to “do something else,” and are not planning any renewed combat.

“Let us clear up, so there won’t be any speculation, that this something else’ does not imply any offensive military action on our part,” the statement read.

The statement does not specify what the “something else” might be, but indicated it could be a dramatic change. At one point, Marcos said: “We are writing you, perhaps for the last time.”

At another point, he implied the movement might broaden its focus: “Those who supported us in our exclusively Indian fight can distance themselves, without shame or remorse, from this something else,'” read another line.

Marcos wrote that, starting several years ago, the movement had wanted to “become bigger, more collective, more national. But we said it was only about Indians, and we had to honor that.”

Suggesting the new directions the movement might take, he said rebels were touched by “the rage and injustice we heard from farmers, workers, students, teachers, homosexuals” and others. The results of the internal talks would be released soon, according to the statement.

The rebels were born as Marxist-oriented insurgents dedicated to overthrow of the national government, but focused their demands increasingly on Indian rights after their January 1994 uprising.

Marcos maintained his dramatic tone, writing, “If the majority says so, we will do everything possible to live up to our duty. Everything, even dying, if necessary.”

Also Thursday, the government acknowledged that marijuana plots allegedly found growing in rebel-dominated areas were not actually located in Zapatista territory.

On Monday, the Mexican army said it found marijuana fields growing in the “area of influence” of the rebels.

Many analysts said Monday’s announcement of army raids on 44 plots covering 10 acres may have helped trigger the rebels’ decision to close their public offices and send their leaders into hiding. The rebels have long said they have nothing to do with drugs or contraband, and have posted large signs banning alcohol and drugs in many of the areas they control.

“The three townships where the 44 marijuana plots were found are not in the Zapatista area of influence, but rather on the edge of it,” said presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar.

That directly contradicted a Tuesday statement by Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez who demanded the rebels explain the drug plots and saying “some wrong-headed groups are trying to promote things that are harmful to all Mexicans.”

The rebels have loosely controlled a patchwork of areas of southern Chiapas under a tense cease-fire that took hold after their January 1994 armed uprising.

In many communities, they live side-by-side with other Indians who don’t agree with the Zapatista movement, making it tough to determine where “rebel territory” begins and ends.

On Monday, the rebels declared a “red alert,” citing fears they might be attacked while members gather to discuss the future of their fight against Mexico’s government.

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